Ever heard of M.A.R.S.???

[splitpit]

Saw this guy today doing WSR. Had a tent with a little green martion alien looking thing on it. Mobile Auto Repair Service thus MARS. Big ole sign advertising FREE WINDSHIELD REPAIRS!

[kbarnes]

How big was his sign?

[splitpit]

It was HUGE! It must have spanned the length of 2 football fields! It was ENORMOUS! Planes flying over were viewing it! It was GIGANTIC!!

Actually the sign wasn't that big....but his tent was his sign, so it was pretty big.

[GlasWeldTech]

It's a recon franchise.They do it all.

[splitpit]

This guy was only doing WSR. I'm not real fond of these roadside guys and their FREE REPAIR gimmick.

[wsrusa]

M.A.R.S. now owns Optic-Kleer in the UK which is a tent driven windshield repair franchise they are bringing that concept to the US (not that it wasn't here already) but in a large scale.

That said MARS is currently being sued by 25% of there operator base.

[mrchip]

I can testify that one of my friends who paints bumpers started with mars and ended up suing them.. it was a nasty affair..mars is a franchise that does it all and also requires a fee ..they work on a sliding scale and if you don't perform they will disown you

[GlassStarz]

I know a guy I used to sell cars with who bought the franchise $50k year later he is back selling toyotas
as far as the Free repair advert thats a mainstream marketing technique with banners for it sold by almost every mfg of supplies far from a gimmick it is real world success for those going after the ins market. When i first started i spent several months at a carwash pushing the free repair if its sold right the customer is happy and you make money I do very little retail now but it sure was a good way to start

[splitpit]

He was also doing repairs for $30 in a market that easily brings $45.00 to $55.00 from most other area wsr techs. Guess he figures he'll give em cheap repairs but he's only hurting himself.

[GlasWeldTech]

Splitpit,
The MARS guy just came to our town (moved from another state). I briefly talked with him and he told me he was having NO luck getting into the dealers in our area due to them (most of them) using my services for 6-7 years. Most of the dealers here are pretty loyal if you give them good service and a good return. The MARS guy does seat repair,WSR,bumper painting,cigarette burns,carpet dying,bedliners (spray),ozone,dents,VIN etching,wheel repair,paint touchups,etc. I am sure he is NOT a specialist in all of these. He is driving a new King Ranch 4X4 crew cab F250 with about a 28 foot enclosed trailer. He said he was having to price cut his services just to do a job for them to get his foot in the door. I don't think he will last in this area. I have seen them come and go.